Hackers bid to steal €4m from Meath County Council

PAUL MURPHY

Gardaí and international police forces are hunting thieves who launched a cyber attack on Meath County Council and tried to steal €4.309m from it.

The attackers stole the identity of the council chief executive Jackie Maguire as they attempted the theft, the Meath Chronicle has learned.

The council confirmed the cyber attack today, saying that the attempted theft was detected before the transaction was completed. A council spokesperson said that its bank was alerted and the matter was reported to the Gardaí who provided assistance through the Financial Intelligence Unit in the National Economic Crime Bureau and through Interpol.

'The funds have been secured and the matter is now the subject of criminal investigations and legal proceedings in Ireland and abroad. In light of the ongoing investigations, the council has been advised to make no further comment on the matter at this time', the council spokesperson said. Sinn Fein whip on Meath County Council Cllr Darren O'Rourke said today that 'this is a really shocking story - the sum involving over €4 million is staggering.

It really is a huge relief to the council and indeed to everyone associated or who uses the services of Meath County Council that this issue was caught before it was too late. The council's checks and balances kicked in and served them well on this occasion. Everyone should be grateful for that.'
Council sources are relieved that the attempt was detected and stopped. It is believed that the chief executive will go into the courts to have the money restored to its accounts. They emphasised that no member of Meath County Council's staff were involved in the incident.